UWM Department of Dance
Ballet I Dance -111 and Ballet 2 Dance 112
Section 803 and 804
This is a Sample Syllabus ONLY !
Instructor: Melissa Anderson
Available in office in MIT #345 T/R before and after class and by appointment
E-mail: Office phone 229-2571
Mailbox in Dance Department Office in MIT #345
Course Description
This class seeks to increase your knowledge of the Ballet vocabulary, improve your technical skills, and develop artistry in this technique. Emphasis will be placed on physical strengthening, flexibility, placement, memorization, and execution of step combinations, basic elements of injury prevention, musicality and above all artistry. You will also be introduced to basic information on music and anatomy, as it pertains to Ballet technique and an overview of ballet history.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate an understanding of:
· Cultural and historical contexts of Ballet and its connection with other art forms
· Formal elements and principles of Ballet technique
· Of Ballet terminology/vocabulary (French)
· The characteristics and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet
· The personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making
See GER Rubric for Relation of Learning Outcomes to UW System Shared Learning Goals (SLG) and Arts Criteria
Arts Distribution Definition/UW System Shared Learning Goals (SLG)
This course addresses UW System Shared Learning Goals (SLG):
1. Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Natural World including breadth of knowledge and the ability to think beyond one’s discipline, major, or area of concentration. This knowledge can be gained through the study of the arts, humanities, languages, sciences, and social studies.
2. Effective Communication Skills including listening, speaking, reading, writing, and information literacy.
This course addresses Arts Divisional Criteria Definition: A branch of learning focusing on the conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of artistic objects or performances that stress values that stand outside conventional ideas of utility. Arts Divisional Criteria:
1. Students will demonstrate comprehension of historical, philosophical, theoretical or aesthetic perspectives commonly used in art.
2. Students will demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast the expressive and formal features of different artistic media and/or cultural traditions.
This course satisfies the GER program criteria for the Arts by:
· Requiring students to interpret dance work;
· Requiring students to evaluate, identify, and analyze artistic expression according to its medium, cultural and historical context; and
· Requiring students to demonstrate an understanding of dance as a cross cultural practice
These criteria are met through class lectures, required readings, performance attendance and assignment written response.
Requirements:
1. Attend class: Students are required to attend all classes, to arrive early enough to be on time and to be prepared to dance.
“Dance Department No Absence Policy
The Department of Dance has a No Absence Policy. Dance instruction is delivered in-class and students must be present to understand course information. For any absence beyond those permitted by campus policy (religious, military, jury duty, etc), a student may (outside of the class meeting time) submit written documentation for consideration by the instructor. All absence penalties are determined by the individual instructor. Any modifications to the No Absence Policy are at the instructor’s discretion.”*
*Students will be allowed up to 2 excused absences for this course without a grade reduction. This includes absence due to injury and illness. Please notify me via email or written note concerning absences due to a death in the family or funeral—these absences are excused if I am notified. Religious holidays are also excused but please notify me at the beginning of the semester as to your participation—after-the fact notification will not be excused. Beyond the 2 excused absences and each unexcused absence will result in the lowering of your attendance/participation grade by 2 points. If you become injured either in class or outside of class, you are still required to attend, watch class and take notes. Please e-mail me concerning lengthy illnesses, injuries and medications that could interfere with your performance in class so we can discuss alternative grading strategies or if it is advisable for you to remain in the class. Class will NOT meet on March 13th (ACDF) ,18th , or20th (Spring Break)
.
No chewing gum. NO CELLULAR PHONES ON or viewed during class.
2. Complete Mid-term Test and End-of-Semester Final Exam :
a. Midterm: a movement test will be given during the 7th week,
Tuesday March 4 and/or Thursday March 6 , 2014 . This will include Filming the class while executing vocabulary and steps from barre and center that the class has learned. Class will then view the recording and turn in written observations.
b. Final: a ballet terms vocabulary test will be administered during class time during the last class May 8th, 2014 .
3.Attend a Ballet concert and write a review. During the course of the semester, you will attend one professional ballet based dance concert) and turn in a written review/descriptive critical/analytical response. I will post a full list of local and regional performances including Madison and Chicago on our D2L site. The list is also posted on the Dance bulletin board in the lounge area outside Mitchell 254 and 256. If seeing Milwaukee Ballet is not at all possible, seek out and attend a professional ballet based concert or other recommended professional concert (with a strong basis in ballet technique) will be fine for writing your required critique. Student concerts, recitals or musicals are not acceptable.
We will discuss concerts in class and I will post tips for writing specifically for dance on D2L
(see “Guidelines for writing about dance”). Papers must be a minimum of 3 full pages long and turned in within 1 week of concert attendance. Please see format for all papers below. Please include your ticket stub and program or other proof of attendance.
NOTE: All papers, reading assignments and written response assignments have due dates as posted in D2L. Late papers will be penalized points.
ALL make up work, rewrites, projects etc. due by by April 29, 2014 .
FORMAT (all papers must observe these guidelines) - Your paper must be at least three pages long, double-spaced, font 11 or 12. Note: 75% of your grade will be for content and presentation with 25% for the grammar and punctuation. Your name, course name and number, the name of the professor teaching the class and date must be on the top left-hand side of the first page. In addition, all pages must be properly numbered (bottom of the page). No Word Perfect (WPS) papers will be accepted. When you ‘save’ your paper you must do it as follows:
111_your name_Ballet_Review. Please submit in D2L drop box and turn in hardcopy.
All academic papers must follow the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. For more details log into the two links below:
UWM Writing Center general site:
http://www4.uwm.edu/writingcenter/Resources.htm
Phone: (414) 229 4339. They also accept walk-ins
MLA style site - UWM Writing Center directs here too...
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Guidelines for Writing about Dance
You should bring a pen and a notebook with you to the performance so that you can take notes and /or jot down ideas that come to you during the performance. There are four main ideas to keep in mind as you take notes. Sally Barnes suggests them in her book, Writing Dancing in the Age of Postmodernism. They are: Evaluation, Description, Interpretation, and Context.
Evaluation: How remarkable or not was the work you saw? Was it good? Was it bad? What are your definitions of good and bad?
Description: What did the dancers do? What does the work look and feel like? Metaphor plays a big role in the descriptive process. As a rule, it helps to write as if you are describing this to someone who did not see it.
Interpretation: What was communicated to you? What was the dance about to you? What is your interpretation on the work?
Context: Where does the particular work come from historically, technically and aesthetically? Or, on a personal level, from what context are you drawing your own interpretation? For example, if you are witnessing the TV show The Weakest Link, you could say that it was influenced by the hit TV shows Survivor and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Do not forget the Introduction of your paper (where you will introduce the content of the review) and the Conclusion (where your wrap up your thoughts).
A complete review or critique includes all these elements to some degree. The most difficult element to include will likely be context because you simply may not know the historical relevance of a work you have seen. Feel free to ask questions or do some research on context on your own. Context of a dance is more difficult than the other three, but do your best.
Again, do not assume the reader (myself) has seen any of the work you are writing about, even if I performed in it. Steer clear of talking to me personally in these reviews. No sentences like: “I really liked that piece that you were in. That one part where you spin on your head was cool, well, I guess you know what I mean.”
GER ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
Overall Outcomes / Not Present / Below Average / Average / ExcellentCultural and historical contexts of Ballet and its connection with other art forms (SLG1, 3
Art Criteria 1,2) / Student did not demonstrate an understanding of historical contexts of Ballet / Student referenced historical context without accurately demonstrating the connection to other art forms / Student demonstrated understanding of the historical context of the Ballet by accurately referencing course content / Student demonstrated exceptional
understanding of the historical context of Ballet in connection with other art forms
Formal elements and principles of Ballet Technique
(SLG 1,3
Art Criteria 1,2) / Student did not demonstrate an understanding of formal elements and principles / Student referenced elements and principles without accurately demonstrating the connection to other art forms / Student demonstrated understanding of the elements and principles by accurately referencing course content / Student demonstrated exceptional understanding of the elements and principles of Ballet Technique Ballet
Ballet Terminology
(SLG 1,3
Art Criteria 1,2) / Student did not demonstrate an understanding of Ballet Terminology / Student referenced Ballet terminology without accurately demonstrating the connection to other art forms / Student demonstrated understanding of Ballet Terminology by accurately referencing course content / Student demonstrated understanding of Ballet Terminology and in doing so helped us to see and understand the Ballet in new ways
The characteristics and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet
(SLG 1,3,
Art Criteria 1,2) / Student did not demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet / Student referenced the characteristics and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet without accurately demonstrating the connection to course content / Student demonstrated understanding and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet by accurately referencing course content / Student demonstrated understanding and essential qualities, techniques, and processes of Ballet through
thoughtful and insightful reflection doing so helped us to see and understand the Ballet in new ways
The personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making
(SLG 1,3
Art Criteria 1,2) / Student did not demonstrate an understanding of the personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making / Student referenced the personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making without accurately demonstrating the connection to the course content / Student demonstrated understanding of the personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making by accurately referencing course content / Student demonstrated understanding of the personal and cultural significance of Dance and Dance Making through thoughtful and insightful reflection
4. Follow the Dress Code: Students are required to follow the Dance Department dress code for ballet classes.
Dress Code
Women Solid color leotard or unitard,
Yoga pants, pink or black tights
Ballet slippers
Hair tied back.
Men Form fitting solid color T-shirt or leotard, form fitting bike shorts or tights
Dance belt
Ballet slippers
Class attire is to be adhered to: No sweats, bulky sweaters OR T-shirts
No chewing gum
No loose or large jewelry
No bare midriffs
NO CELLULAR PHONES on or viewed during class
Ballet slippers and other dance wear can be purchased locally at Trep-Art (13865 W North Ave., Brookfield, Phone: 262.786.8868) or on line at
Discount Dance Supply (www.discountdance.com) and
Dance Distributors (www.dancedistributors.com).
Ballet slippers are also available at Danceworks (1661 N. Water Street –east side Milwaukee phone 414-277-8480 )
Required Text:
Ballet Basics (Fifth Edition) by Sandra Noll Hammond.
Available at new and used at amazon.com and at the UWM bookstore also on reserve at the UWM Library
Also helpful: Ballet terminology easily available on D2L for this class.
Class content:
Classes will consist of a ballet barre and center. There will be occasional video showings in class or links to view outside of class time, assigned readings and written responses, assignments to create and perform short phrases alone or with a partner and discussion of required concerts. Several classes may be taught by guest Master teachers and/or combined with guest professors. Students will attend ONE professional Ballet concert off site and OUTSIDE of Class time.
Course Workload for UWM Dance Classes sections 804 and 806 (3-credit class for 144 hours)
· 2.5 class hours weekly including showings and/or quizzes/exams (total for 14 weeks=35 hours)
· 2-3 hours concert attendance or film screening (1 professional performance)
· 3-9 hours weekly for readings, assignments and video review (total=42-126 hours)
· 2-4 hours weekly for rehearsals as field experience (total=28-56 hours)
Course Workload for UWM Dance Classes section 803 and 805 (2-credit class for 96 hours)
· 2.5 class hours weekly including showings and/or quizzes/exams (total for 14 weeks=35 hours)
· 2-3 hours concert attendance or film screening (1 professional performance)